British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Type	Privately held company
Founded	Victoria, British Columbia (1960)
Headquarters	Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Key people	Elizabeth J. Harrison, Chair David Hahn, President & CEO
Industry	Transportation
Products	Ferry service
Revenue	C$596.3 million (2007)[1]
Operating income	C$67.9 million (2007)[1]
Net income	C$110 million (2007)[1]
Employees	3,153 (2005)
Slogan	Life on the coast.
Website	www.bcferries.bc.ca

British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is the company that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Set up in 1960 to provide a substantially better service than those provided by the Black Ball Line and the Canadian Pacific Railway, which were affected by frequent spurts of job action, BC Ferries has become the largest passenger ferry line in North America and the second largest in the world, boasting a fleet of 36 vessels with a total passenger and crew capacity of over 27,000, serving 49 locations on the B.C. coast. B.C. Ferries current logo This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... The term privately held company refers to ownership of a business company in two different ways—first, referring to ownership by non-governmental organizations; and second, referring to ownership of the companys stock by a relatively small number of holders who do not trade the stock publicly. ... Location of Victoria within the Capital Regional District in British Columbia, Canada Country Canada Province British Columbia Regional District Capital Incorporated 1862[1] Government  - Mayor Alan Lowe (past mayors)  - Governing body Victoria City Council  - MP Denise Savoie  - MLAs Carole James, Rob Fleming Area [2]  - City 19. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Location of Victoria within the Capital Regional District in British Columbia, Canada Country Canada Province British Columbia Regional District Capital Incorporated 1862[1] Government  - Mayor Alan Lowe (past mayors)  - Governing body Victoria City Council  - MP Denise Savoie  - MLAs Carole James, Rob Fleming Area [2]  - City 19. ... For the tax agency in the United Kingdom of the same name, see HM Revenue and Customs. ... Image File history File links Green_Arrow_Up. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Loonie. ... Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), also known as operating income and operating profit, is a term used to describe a companys earnings. ... Image File history File links Red_Arrow_Down. ... Net income is equal to the income that a firm has after subtracting costs and expenses from the total revenue. ... Image File history File links Green_Arrow_Up. ... For the album by the Kaiser Chiefs see Employment (album) Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ... Look up slogan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... The ferryboat Dongan Hills, filled with commuters, about to dock at a New York City pier, ca. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area  Ranked 4th - Total 944,735 km... The Puget Sound Navigation Company (PSNC) operated a fleet of ferries on Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia in British Columbia and Washington as Black Ball Line. ... An eastbound CPR freight at Stoney Creek Bridge in Rogers Pass. ...

As BC Ferries provides an essential link from mainland Canada to the various islands on its routes, it is subsidized by Transport Canada. The subsidy for 2004-2005 was CAD $25 million^[2] and is adjusted annually to keep pace with the rate of inflation. Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Loonie. ...

History

In the late 1950s, a strike by employees of the Black Ball Line caused the Social Credit government of W.A.C. Bennett to decide that the coastal ferry service in B.C. needed to be government-owned, and so he set about creating BC Ferries. The British Columbia Social Credit Party, whose members are known as Socreds, was the governing political party of British Columbia, Canada, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election and the 1991 election. ... The Honourable William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC (September 6, 1900 – February 23, 1979) was a Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. ...

Tsawwassen terminal was constructed by filling in a large area at the end of a causeway

Tollbooths at Tsawwassen Terminal

A BC Ferries loading dock (berth 4 at Tsawwassen terminal)

Final loading of cars onto a ferry

BC Ferries' first route, commissioned in 1960, was between Swartz Bay, a small suburb of Sidney on Vancouver Island, and Tsawwassen, a part of the Corporation of Delta, using just two vessels. These ships were the MV Tsawwassen^[3], which is still in use on a smaller route, and the MV Sidney which has been retired. The next few years saw a dramatic growth of the B.C. ferry system, as it took over operations of the Black Ball Line and other major private companies providing vehicle ferry service between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. As the ferry system expanded and started to service other small coastal communities, BC Ferries had to build more vessels, many of them in the first five years of its operations, to keep up with the demand. Another method of satisfying increasing demand for service was BC Ferries' unique "stretch and lift" program, involving seven vessels being cut in half and extended, and five of those vessels later cut in half again and elevated, to increase their passenger and vehicle-carrying capacities. The vast majority of the vessels in the fleet were built in B.C. waters, with only two foreign purchases and one domestic purchase. In the mid 1980s, BC Ferries took over the operations of the saltwater branch of the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways, which ran ferry services to very small coastal communities. This action dramatically increased the size of BC Ferries' fleet and its geographical service area. The distinctive 'dogwood on green' flag that BC Ferries used between 1960 and 2003 gave the service its popular nickname "the Dogwood Fleet". ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (768x1024, 90 KB) Summary This photograph was taken from a float plane. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (768x1024, 90 KB) Summary This photograph was taken from a float plane. ... Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal from the air. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 1947 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: BC Ferries Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 1947 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: BC Ferries Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 1868 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: BC Ferries Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2288x1712, 1868 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: BC Ferries Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 1590 KB) Summary Robert Werner Vancouver, BC http://PelaLusa. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 1590 KB) Summary Robert Werner Vancouver, BC http://PelaLusa. ... Swartz Bay, located on the north end of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, is the location of one of BC Ferries main terminals. ... Sidney is a town located at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula, on Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. ... Vancouver Island is separated from mainland British Columbia by the Strait of Georgia and the Queen Charlotte Strait, and from Washington by the Juan De Fuca Strait. ... , Tsawwassens BC Ferry terminal. ... Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada. ... List of retired BC Ferries: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Vancouver Island is separated from mainland British Columbia by the Strait of Georgia and the Queen Charlotte Strait, and from Washington by the Juan De Fuca Strait. ... The Lower Mainland is the name that residents of British Columbia apply to the region surrounding the City of Vancouver. ...

At its inception, BC Ferries was a division of the British Columbia Toll Highways and Bridges Authority, a provincial Crown corporation. Through successive reorganizations, it evolved into the British Columbia Ferry Authority, and then the British Columbia Ferry Corporation, both of which, again, were provincial Crown corporations. In 2003, the Government of British Columbia announced that BC Ferries, which had been in debt, was going to be reorganized into a private company. This was established through the passing of the Coastal Ferry Act^[4] (Bill 18-2003). The single voting share is held by the BC Ferry Authority, which operates under the rules of the Act. Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area  Ranked 4th - Total 944,735 km... In April 2003, the Province of British Columbia established the B.C. Ferry Authority, an independent, no-share capital corporation that holds the single issued voting share of the new British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. ...

A controversy began in July, 2004 when BC Ferries, under a new American CEO, announced that the company had disqualified all Canadian bids to build three new Super-C class ships, and only the proposals from European shipyards were being considered. The contract is estimated at $542 million for the three ships, which are each designed to carry 370 vehicles and 1600 passengers. The Super C Class Ferries are ferries that are being built for BC Ferries at the Flensburger Schiffbau–Gesellschaft shipyard in Flensburg, Germany. ... Small shipyard in Klaksvík (Faroe Islands), reparing fishing vessels Fish ladder and shipyard in Grave, the Netherlands Construction hall of Schichau Seebeck Shipyard, Bremerhaven Gdynia Shipyard Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. ...

The argument for domestic construction of the ferries is that it would employ numerous British Columbia workers, would revitalize the sagging B.C. shipbuilding industry, and entitle the provincial government to a large portion of the cost in the form of taxes. However, European shipbuilders had far more experience and shipyards that were more capable of constructing the ships at a significantly lower cost, and contract terms with European shipyards could be negotiated that were superior to what was likely to be available from B.C. shipbuilders.

On September 17, 2004, BC Ferries finally awarded^[5] the vessel construction contract to Germany's Flensburger shipyard. The contract protects BC Ferries from any delays through a fixed price and fixed schedule contract, and the performance of the ferries is guaranteed with strong contractual requirements. The three vessels are expected to be delivered in 2007 and 2008. September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft is a German shipbuilding company, headquartered in Flensburg. ...

On August 18, 2006, BC Ferries commissioned^[6] Flensburger to build a new vessel for BCF's Inside Passage route, with the contract having many of the same types of terms as that for the Super-C vessels. The new northern service vessel is to be delivered in Spring 2009. is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Current routes

List

Route numbers are used internally by BC Ferries. All routes allow vehicles unless stated otherwise.

• Route 1 - Georgia Strait South (Highway 17): Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen
• Route 2 - Georgia Strait Central (Highway 1): Nanaimo (via Departure Bay) to Horseshoe Bay
• Route 3 - Howe Sound: Langdale to Horseshoe Bay
• Route 4 - Satellite Channel: Swartz Bay to Saltspring Island (at Fulford Harbour)
• Route 5 - Swanson Channel: Swartz Bay to the Outer Gulf Islands (Galiano, Mayne, Pender, and Saturna Islands)
• Route 6 - South Stuart Channel: Crofton to Saltspring Island (at Vesuvius)
• Route 7 - Jervis Inlet (Highway 101): Earls Cove to Saltery Bay
• Route 8 - Queen Charlotte Channel: Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island (via Snug Cove)
• Route 9 - Active Pass Shuttle: Tsawwassen to Saltspring Island and the Outer Gulf Islands (listed above in route 5)
• Route 10 - Inside Passage: Port Hardy to Prince Rupert
• Route 11 - Hecate Strait (Highway 16): Prince Rupert to Queen Charlotte Islands (via Skidegate)
• Route 12 - Saanich Inlet: Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay
• Route 13 - Thornbrough Channel: Langdale to Gambier Island and Keats Island (passengers only)
• Route 17 - Georgia Strait North: Powell River (via Westview) to Comox (via Little River)
• Route 18 - Malaspina Strait: Powell River to Texada Island (via Blubber Bay)
• Route 19 - Northumberland Channel: Nanaimo Harbour to Gabriola Island (via Descanso Bay)
• Route 20 - North Stuart Channel: Chemainus to Thetis and Kuper Islands
• Route 21 - Baynes Sound: Buckley Bay to Denman Island (via Metcalf Bay)
• Route 22 - Lambert Channel: Denman Island (via Gravelly Bay) to Hornby Island (via Shingle Spit)
• Route 23 - Discovery Passage: Campbell River to Quadra Island (via Quathiaski Cove)
• Route 24 - Sutil Channel: Quadra Island (via Heriot Bay) to Cortes Island (via Whaletown)
• Route 25 - Broughton Strait: Port McNeill to Alert Bay (on Cormorant Island) and Sointula (on Malcolm Island)
• Route 26 - Skidegate Inlet: Skidegate (on Graham Island) to Alliford Bay (on Moresby Island)
• Route 30 - Mid-Island Express (Highway 19): Nanaimo (via Duke Point) to Tsawwassen
• Route 40 - Discovery Coast: Port Hardy to Bella Coola (with stops at Bella Bella, Shearwater, Ocean Falls and Klemtu)

The Strait of Georgia (also known as Georgia Strait and the Gulf of Georgia) is a 240 km (150 mi)-long strait between Vancouver Island (as well as its nearby Gulf Islands) and the mainland Pacific coast of British Columbia, Canada. ... British Columbia provincial highway 17 is actually two separate highways, one on Vancouver Island, the other on the Lower Mainland. ... Swartz Bay, located on the north end of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, is the location of one of BC Ferries main terminals. ... Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal from the air. ... Highway 1 is the British Columbia section of the Trans-Canada Highway. ... Nanaimo redirects here. ... Departure Bay is a neighbourhood in the north central region of Nanaimo, British Columbia. ... Horseshoe Bay is a small village area within the city of West Vancouver. ... // Description Howe Sound is a fjord situated immediately northwest of Vancouver, Canada, fronting on one of the citys suburbs, West Vancouver. ... Langdale is a small community on the Sunshine Coast of southern British Columbia. ... Horseshoe Bay is a small village area within the city of West Vancouver. ... Swartz Bay, located on the north end of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, is the location of one of BC Ferries main terminals. ... Saltspring Island Saltspring Island is the largest, most populated, and most visited of the Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia, Canada. ... Swartz Bay, located on the north end of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, is the location of one of BC Ferries main terminals. ... A map of the island. ... Village Bay, Mayne Islands ferry dock Active Pass Mayne Island is a rustic 21-square-kilometre island in the southern Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia. ... A view of North Pender Islands shoreline Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pender Island Pender Island is a small island located in the Strait of Georgia, roughly between the cities of Vancouver and Victoria, in British Columbia. ... Saturna Island is a mountainous island about 31 square kilometers in size in the southern Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia. ... Crofton, British Columbia, Canada, is a small town that is part of the District of North Cowichan on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. ... Saltspring Island Saltspring Island is the largest, most populated, and most visited of the Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia, Canada. ... Jervis Inlet is one of the principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast. ... British Columbia provincial highway 101 is the main north-south thoroughfare on the Sunshine Coast. ... Earls Cove is a small settlement located on Jarvis Inlet in the Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia. ... Horseshoe Bay is a small village area within the city of West Vancouver. ... Bowen Island lies near Vancouver, British Columbia in Howe Sound. ... Active Pass from Galiano Island Active Pass is a body of water in the Pacific Ocean separating Mayne Island and Galiano Island in British Columbia, Canadas Strait of Georgia. ... Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal from the air. ... Saltspring Island Saltspring Island is the largest, most populated, and most visited of the Gulf Islands chain of British Columbia, Canada. ... Part of the Inside Passage. ... Location of Port Hardy, British Columbia Port Hardy is a small community in British Columbia, Canada located on the north-eastern coast of Vancouver Island. ... Orthographic projection centred over Prince Rupert BC Coast, showing Prince Rupert and Vancouver Prince Rupert is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. ... Highway 16 is the British Columbia, Canada, section of the Yellowhead Highway. ... Orthographic projection centred over Prince Rupert BC Coast, showing Prince Rupert and Vancouver Prince Rupert is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. ... Leaving Skidegate Inlet aboard BC Ferries M/V Queen of Prince Rupert The Queen Charlotte Islands or Haida Gwaii (Land of the Haida) are an archipelago off the northwest coast of British Columbia, Canada, consisting of two main islands, Graham Island in the North, and Moresby Island in the south... Skidegate () is a Haida community in the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) in British Columbia, Canada. ... Saanich Inlet is a body of salt water that lies between the Saanich Peninsula and the Malahat highlands of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. ... Brentwood Bay, British Columbia is a small village just north of Victoria and south of Sidney on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. ... Mill Bay is a town of about 3,200 people located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada about 30 km north of Victoria, British Columbia, the capital. ... Langdale is a small community on the Sunshine Coast of southern British Columbia. ... Gambier Island is an island in Howe Sound, British Columbia. ... // Description Howe Sound is a fjord situated immediately northwest of Vancouver, Canada, fronting on one of the citys suburbs, West Vancouver. ... Powell River, British Columbia is a small city on the south mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada, located on the shores of the Strait of Georgia. ... Coordinates: Country Canada Province British Columbia Regional District Comox-Strathcona Incorporated 1953 Government  - Mayor Jim Brass Area  - City 26. ... Powell River, British Columbia is a small city on the south mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada, located on the shores of the Strait of Georgia. ... Texada Island is located about 8 km southwest from the city of Powell River in the Powell River Regional District on British Columbias Sunshine Coast. ... Nanaimo redirects here. ... Arbutus tree and sandstone beach Malaspina Galleries Gabriola Island is an island in the Nanaimo Regional District on the West coast of British Columbia, Canada between mainland BC and Vancouver Island. ... Chemainus is a town on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. ... Thetis Island location in the Strait of Georgia Thetis Island (population: 350) is an island off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. ... Kuper Island belongs to the Penelakut First Nation, located in the southern Gulf Islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland Pacific coast of British Columbia, Canada. ... Baynes sound is a stretch of water between Denman Island and Vancouver Island, BC. It is an off-shoot of the Georgia Strait that seperates Vancouver Island from the Mainland of British Columbia ... Buckley Bay is a geographical location on the east coast of Vancouver Island, located between Union Bay to the north and Fanny Bay to the south. ... Denman Island is one of the Northern Gulf Islands in the Comox-Strathcona Regional District of British Columbia, Canada, and is home to a small community of 1,016 year-round residents (2001 census). ... Denman Island is one of the Northern Gulf Islands in the Comox-Strathcona Regional District of British Columbia, Canada, and is home to a small community of 1,016 year-round residents (2001 census). ... Hornby Island is a Northern Gulf Island in the Comox Valley of British Columbia, Canada, with a small community of approximatly 900 residents concentrated on the south end of the island. ... Discovery Passage is a channel that forms part of the Inside Passage between Vancouver Island and the Discovery Islands which lie off the British Columbia coast north of the Georgia Strait. ... Campbell River is a city in British Columbia on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the south end of Discovery Passage. ... Quadra Island is a small island community off of the Eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. ... Quadra Island is a small island community off of the Eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. ... Cortes Island is one of the series of Discovery Islands in British Columbia, Canada. ... Port McNeill is a small community on the north-eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia (south-western Canada) with a population of 2,623 (2006). ... Read I heard the Owl Call My Name ... Sointula is an isolated village on Malcolm Island in British Columbia, Canada. ... Sointula is the biggest community on Malcolm Island. ... Skidegate () is a Haida community in the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) in British Columbia, Canada. ... Moresby Island is a large island (2,608 km²), part of Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia, Canada, located at . ... British Columbia provincial highway 19, known locally as the Island Highway, is the main north-south thoroughfare on Vancouver Island north of Nanaimo. ... Nanaimo redirects here. ... Duke Point is a geographical location in the extreme southeastern part of the city of Nanaimo. ... Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal from the air. ... Location of Port Hardy, British Columbia Port Hardy is a small community in British Columbia, Canada located on the north-eastern coast of Vancouver Island. ... Bella Coola may refer to several things, all closely related to a geographic area within British Columbias Central Coast. ... Bella Bella is a village on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. ... Ocean Falls is a small community on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada. ... Klemtu is a village in the coastal fjords of British Columbia, Canada. ...

Maps

Numbers in blue circles are ferry route numbers. Provincial highway trailblazers are added where appropriate. This article lists all existing numbered highways in British Columbia, Canada. ...

Zone 1 - Southern Gulf Islands Image File history File links Download high resolution version (852x790, 1068 KB) BC Ferry routes in the region of the Southern Gulf Islands. ...

Zone 2 - Central Georgia Strait Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1002x790, 1154 KB) BC Ferry routes in the region of Central Georgia Strait. ...

Zone 3 - Northern Georgia Strait Image File history File links Download high resolution version (844x790, 1136 KB) BC Ferry routes in the region of Northern Georgia Strait. ...

Zone 4 - Queen Charlotte Sound Image File history File links Download high resolution version (576x790, 807 KB) BC Ferry routes in the region of Queen Charlotte Sound. ...

Zone 5 - North Coast Image File history File links Download high resolution version (874x790, 1247 KB) BC Ferry routes in the region of the North Coast. ...

Regional districts served

YK NWT AB USA AK Capital Cariboo Cowichan GVRD Nanaimo Stikine The Capital Regional District (CRD) is a local government administrative district encompassing the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Canada and the southern Gulf Islands: (Saltspring, Galiano, Pender, Saturna, Mayne), and many smaller islands. ... Central Coast Regional District is a regional district in British Columbia, Canada. ... The Comox-Strathcona Regional District of British Columbia is on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island and part of the Mainland north of the Sunshine Coast. ... YK NWT AB USA AK Capital Cariboo Cowichan GVRD Nanaimo Stikine The Cowichan Valley Regional District is a regional district in the Canadian province of British Columbia is on the southern part of Vancouver Island, bordered by the Nanaimo and Alberni-Clayoquot Regional Districts to the north and northwest, and... Motto: Building a sustainable region Area: 2,878. ... Mount Waddington is a Regional District in British Columbia. ... The Regional District of Nanaimo is a regional local government located on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. ... The Regional District of Powell River includes the District Municipality of Powell River and a number of unincorporated areas. ... Skeena-Queen Charlotte is a Regional District in British Columbia. ... The Sunshine Coast Regional District of British Columbia is located on the southern mainland coast, across the Jaun de Fuca Strait from Vancouver Island. ...

Vessels

Queen of Saanich is a V class ferry

Spirit of British Columbia is an S class ferry

BC Ferries has the largest fleet of vehicle ferry vessels in the world. There are 36 vessels, ranging from small 16-car ferries up to 470-car "superferries". All of the vessels in use by BC Ferries are "roll-on, roll-off" car ferries. Most of the major vessels are based on similar designs which are aggregated into "classes" of ferries: ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x656, 128 KB) Summary Queen of Saanich is a V class ferry in the BC Ferries fleet. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x656, 128 KB) Summary Queen of Saanich is a V class ferry in the BC Ferries fleet. ... The V Class Ferries include the following BC Ferries Ships: Queen of Esquimalt Built: Victoria, British Columbia, 1963 Length: 129. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (966x412, 116 KB) BC Ferry vessel Spirit of British Columbia. Photo by Eric Lee, taken July 18, 2006 while aboard sister ship Spirit of Vancouver Island through Active Pass. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (966x412, 116 KB) BC Ferry vessel Spirit of British Columbia. Photo by Eric Lee, taken July 18, 2006 while aboard sister ship Spirit of Vancouver Island through Active Pass. ... The S-Class Ferries, Spirit Class Ferries or Super ferries are the largest ferries in the BC Ferries Fleet. ...

Current Vessels

• Two S class or "superferries", the largest in the fleet
• Five C class, double-ended ferries
• Three V class. Built in the 1960s, these ferries have been stretched and lifted to increase their capacity.
• Three Burnaby class. Built in the 1960s, these ferries have only been stretched to increase their capacity, except for the MV Queen of New Westminster, which has been stretched and lifted.
• Two Intermediate class vessels.
• Three Powell River class ships.
• One Century class vessel. As the name suggests, this vessel can carry 100 cars per load, for use on busy, short inter-island routes.
• Four K class and Two Q class ships, for small inter-island routes.
• Two T class ships.
• Other ships of BC Ferries (not classed)

The S-Class Ferries, Spirit Class Ferries or Super ferries are the largest ferries in the BC Ferries Fleet. ... The C-Class ferries are a class of double-ended ferries operated by BC Ferries in the Strait of Georgia in British Columbia, and were all constructed during the 1970s and early 1980s. ... The V Class Ferries include the following BC Ferries Ships: Queen of Esquimalt Built: Victoria, British Columbia, 1963 Length: 129. ... Queen of Burnaby There are three ferries in BC Ferries fleet which fit into the Burnaby class. ... BC Ferries operates two Intermediate Class ferries: MV Queen of Cumberland (1992) 127 cars 450 passengers 96m 2,855. ... Powell Class ferries One of few classes of ships operated by BC Ferries. ... The Century class ferry is a Mclaren and Sons,naval architects design that is intended to service the busier Gulf Island routes in British Columbia. ... The K-Class ferries are an informally named group of similarly designed inter-island ferries operated by BC Ferries. ... Like the K class ferry, the Q Class are referred to as minor vessels operated on inter-island routes. ... BC Ferries operates two T class ferries for use on small inter-island routes. ... A number of ships operated by BC Ferries are not classed. ...

Future Vessels

• Three Super C class, Currently in the construction stage

The Super C Class Ferries are ferries that are being built for BC Ferries at the Flensburger Schiffbau–Gesellschaft shipyard in Flensburg, Germany. ...

Former Vessels

• Retired BC Ferries ships
• FastCat Series

List of retired BC Ferries: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Fast Cat ferries were operated from 1999 to 2000 by BC Ferries. ...

Accidents

The following is a summary of some of the incidents which have occurred in the BC Ferries fleet:

Queen of Victoria

On August 2, 1970 the Soviet freighter Sergey Yesenin collided with the Queen of Victoria in Active Pass, slicing through the middle of the ferry, days after her return to service following stretching. Three people were killed and damage was estimated at over $1 million (1970) dollars. The Soviet ship was not supposed to be in Active Pass, and as such, the Soviet government was forced to compensate BC Ferries. is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Soviet redirects here. ...

Years later, while in Active Pass and within metres of the site of the 1970 collision, the Queen of Victoria was disabled by a fire in the engine room.

Queen of Alberni

On August 9, 1979, the Queen of Alberni was transiting through Active Pass when it ran aground on Galiano Island, tipping fifteen degrees to starboard. Several large commercial vehicles on board the vessel at the time were damaged. No persons were injured, but a racehorse onboard was killed. is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... The MV Queen of Alberni is a ferry that operates between Tsawwassen and Duke Point in British Columbia. ...

On June 1989, the Queen of Alberni collided with the loading dock at Departure Bay causing significant damage to the ship and dock. 6 people were injured including a cook who suffered a fractured cheekbone as he was walking down a set of stairs. 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On March 12, 1992, at 8:08 am (16:08 UTC), the Queen of Alberni collided with the Japanese freighter Shinwa Maru southwest of Tsawwassen. The collision occurred in heavy fog, with both vessels suffering minor damage. Injuries included 2 serious and 25 minor injuries for the 260 people on the ferry, while none of the 11 people aboard the freighter received injuries. ^[7] March 12 is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... ...

Queen of Cowichan

On August 12, 1985 three people were killed when the Queen of Cowichan ran over a pleasure boat near the Horseshoe Bay terminal. is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... The MV Queen of Cowichan was built in Victoria, British Columbia in 1976. ...

Queen of Saanich

On the morning of February 6, 1992 the Queen of Saanich and the Royal Vancouver passenger ship collided in heavy fog while navigating near the northern entrance of Active Pass. A total of 23 passengers aboard the Royal Vancouver were injured. Blame was cast upon the crew of the Royal Vancouver for failing to track the Queen of Saanich on radar, though both vessels were equipped with sophisticated radar systems. February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

Queen of New Westminster

In October, 1971, the Queen of New Westminster pulled out of her berth at the Departure Bay terminal while vehicle loading was in progress. A car and its two occupants fell into the water. Both of the vehicle's occupants were rescued. Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... There are three ferries in BC Ferries fleet which fit into the Burnaby class. ...

In a similar incident, on August 13, 1992 the same vessel pulled out of her berth at the Departure Bay terminal while vehicle loading ramps were still lowered and resting on the ship. Three people were killed, one was seriously injured, and two others received minor injuries when a van from Alberta containing 6 people fell 15 m (about 50 ft) from the upper deck onto the lower car deck and finally into the sea below. The van was stopped and instructed to wait on the loading ramp by terminal crew members. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada determined that this accident was caused by the vessel not properly following departing procedures and secondarily due to poor communication between terminal and ship crew members. ^[8] is the 225th day of the year (226th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

Mayne Queen

On November 7, 1995 the Mayne Queen departed from Snug Cove and ran into a neighbouring marina, heavily damaging a floating dock in addition to 12 small pleasure boats (one of which sank). The crash was primarily attributed to human error and while transferring steering and power control from one control panel to the other located in the ship. The captain of the vessel was also inexperienced with the Mayne Queen and normally piloted other vessels. More alarming was the fact that the captain promptly left the scene of the accident after the incident occurred without conducting a proper damage assessment. ^[9] is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ...

On August 12, 1996 the Mayne Queen departed Swartz Bay terminal and ran aground off Piers Island after losing steering control. The grounding occurred while performing a regular weekly test of the batteries for the steering control system. A crew member overheard there was going to be a test and in an attempt to be helpful and without direction cut all power from the vessel's steering batteries as he had done at night when the ship was stored, not realizing the test in question only required the removal of a battery charger and that his assistance was neither requested nor required. No one was injured in the incident and the vessel was assisted off the rocks at high tide but she suffered extensive damage to her propulsion system, having two of the four steering and propulsion pods for the right-angle drives sheared off and one of the two remaining pods suffering propeller damage.^[10] is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

Spirit of Vancouver Island

On September 14, 2000 the Spirit of Vancouver Island collided with the 9.72 m (about 32 ft) Star Ruby while attempting to overtake the vessel in a narrow channel. The collision occurred approximately 1km (about ½ mi) from the Swartz Bay Terminal where the ferry had departed from. The Spirit of Vancouver Island struck the Star Ruby on its port side, causing the pleasure craft to flip over and eventually right itself, though swamped and heavily damaged. Two passengers aboard the Star Ruby later died as a result of their injuries sustained by the collision.^[11] September 14 is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Queen of Surrey

On May 12, 2003 the Queen of Surrey was disabled as a result of an engine room fire. The Queen of Capilano was dispatched and tethered to the Queen of Surrey while tugboats were dispatched. The vessel was then towed back to shore. None of the 318 passengers were injured, but several crew members were treated for minor injuries. Some buckling of the main car deck resulted from the heat of the fire. However, no vehicles were damaged in the incident.^[12] May 12 is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. ...

Queen of Oak Bay

The Queen of Oak Bay after crashing into a marina on June 30, 2005.

On June 30, 2005 at about 10:10 in the morning (17:10 UTC), the vessel Queen of Oak Bay, on the Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay (or Trans-Canada Highway) ferry route, lost power four minutes before she was to dock at the Horseshoe Bay terminal. The vessel became adrift, unable to change speed, but able to steer with the rudders. The horn was blown steadily and an announcement telling passengers to brace for impact was made minutes before the 139 m (456 ft) ship slowly ran into the nearby Sewell's Marina, where she destroyed or damaged 28 pleasure craft and subsequently went aground a short distance from the shore. No casualties or injuries were reported. ^{[13] [14] [15]} Image File history File links The Queen of Oak Bay, a BC ferry crushes dozens of small pleasure crafts while running aground in Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia, Canada. ... Image File history File links The Queen of Oak Bay, a BC ferry crushes dozens of small pleasure crafts while running aground in Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia, Canada. ... The Queen of Oak Bay is a double-ended C class roll-on/roll-off ferry in the BC Ferries fleet, launched in 1981 at Victoria, British Columbia. ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Queen of Oak Bay is a double-ended C class roll-on/roll-off ferry in the BC Ferries fleet, launched in 1981 at Victoria, British Columbia. ... Nanaimo (2004 pop. ... Horseshoe Bay is a small village area within the city of West Vancouver. ... Highway 1 is the British Columbia section of the Trans-Canada Highway. ...

On July 1, 2005, BC Ferries issued a statement that Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board, and Lloyd's Register of Shipping were reviewing the control and mechanical systems onboard to find a fault. An inspection revealed minimal damage to the ship, with only some minor damage to a metal fender, paint scrapes to the rudder, and some minor scrapes to one blade of a propeller. is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. ... The Transportation Safety Board (Bureau de la Securite des Transports du Canada) is the Canadian agency responsible for maintaining transportation safety in Canada. ... The Lloyds Register Group is an independent risk management organisation providing risk assessment and risk mitigation solutions and management systems certification. ...

On July 7, 2005, BC Ferries concluded that a missing cotter pin was to blame. The pin normally retained a nut on a linkage between an engine speed governor and the fuel control for one of the engines. Without the pin, the nut fell off and the linkage separated, causing the engine, clutches, and propellers to increase in speed until overspeed safety devices tripped and shut down the entire propulsion system. The faulty speed governor had been serviced 17 days before the incident during a $35-million upgrade and the cotter pin was not properly replaced at that time. is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cotter pins: A. new B. as-installed C. spring type D. cross-section of traditional design A cotter pin is a metal fastener that is bent during installation, similar to a staple or rivet. ... A governor is a device used to measure and regulate the speed of a machine, such as an engine. ... For other uses, see Clutch (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

The Queen of Oak Bay was quickly repaired and tested at sea trials. She returned to regular service on July 8, 2005. A complete investigation report consisting of a 14-page Divisional Inquiry and a 28-page Engineering Incident Investigation was finally released in September 2006. ^[16] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 2006 is the ninth month of 2006 and has begun on a Friday. ...

Queen of the North

Main article: Queen of the North

On March 22, 2006 the M/V Queen of the North sank 135 km (81 mi, 70 nautical miles) south of Prince Rupert, British Columbia when she struck Gil Island at approximately 1 a.m. PST. Two people from 100 Mile House are missing. David Hahn, CEO of BC Ferries states, "There is a real possibility that they went down with the ship." It is unlikely that it will be possible to salvage the North. Officials are currently trying to determine the cause of this accident. The M/V Queen of the North was a RORO ferry built by AG Weser of Germany and operated by BC Ferries, which ran along a scenic 18-hour route off the Canadian Pacific coast between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, also known as the Inside Passage. ... March 22 is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The M/V Queen of the North was a RORO ferry built by AG Weser of Germany and operated by BC Ferries, which ran along a scenic 18-hour route off the Canadian Pacific coast between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, also known as the Inside Passage. ... km redirects here. ... A mile is a unit of length, usually used to measure distance, in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, United States customary units and Norwegian/Swedish mil. ... A nautical mile is a unit of distance, or, as physical scientists like to call it, length. ... Orthographic projection centred over Prince Rupert BC Coast, showing Prince Rupert and Vancouver Prince Rupert is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area  Ranked 4th - Total 944,735 km... Gil Island is an island in British Columbia, Canada, located in the Hecate Strait between Pitt Island and Princess Royal Island. ... (Redirected from 100 Mile House) 100 Mile House is a town located in central British Columbia, Canada. ...

Quinsam

On January 9, 2007, the MV Quinsam was loading traffic from Nanaimo to Gabriola Island when the ferry unexpectedly pulled out of its berth. A pickup truck that was on the boarding ramp plunged into the water below. Ferry workers were able to warn the truck's lone occupant, who was able to escape before the vehicle fell.^[17] is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Nanaimo (2004 pop. ... Gabriola Island (49°9′N 123°47′W) is an island on the West coast of British Columbia, Canada between mainland BC and Vancouver Island. ...

See also

• Alaska Marine Highway - Alaska's Marine Highway System, similar to BC Ferries. Also serves Prince Rupert.
• Black Ball Line
• British Columbia Ministry of Highways - responsible for the ferries on the lakes and rivers of the B.C. Interior.
• Fast Ferry Scandal - information about the Pacificat class of vessels that BC Ferries briefly operated.
• Georgia Strait Bridge - a controversial idea of replacing the ferry service with a fixed link between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland.
• Kootenay Lake Ferry, a ferry in the British Columbia interior operated by the BC Ministry of Transportation
• Marine Atlantic, An east-coast analogue of BCFerries.
• Washington State Ferries

The Alaska Marine Highway or the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) is a ferry service that is operated by the government of the state of Alaska in the United States. ... Orthographic projection centred over Prince Rupert BC Coast, showing Prince Rupert and Vancouver Prince Rupert is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. ... The Puget Sound Navigation Company (PSNC) operated a fleet of ferries on Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia in British Columbia and Washington as Black Ball Line. ... The three BC Ferries PacifiCats sitting idle in the North Vancouver shipyards. ... An idea has existed for many years of replacing the ferry service on the south coast of British Columbia with a bridge across the Strait of Georgia, connecting the provinces Lower Mainland area to Vancouver Island. ... Marine Atlantic ferry ports and current routes Marine Atlantic Inc. ... Washington state maintains the largest fleet of passenger and auto ferries in the United States and the third largest in the world. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

BC Ferries

• BC Ferries Official Site

• BCF Vessel Tracking - realtime vessel positions

• BC Ferry & Marine Workers Union
• Martin Crilly, Commissioner of BC Ferries
• The Ferry Terminal - Ferries of British Columbia
• BC Ferries and Ships on the BC Coast (very extensive photo galleries)

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

References

• Bannerman, Gary and Patricia. The Ships of British Columbia - An Illustrated History of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation. Surrey: Hancock House Publishers, 1985

Footnotes

Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... The Seattle Times is the leading daily newspaper in Seattle, Washington, United States. ... CBC redirects here, as this is the most common use of the abbreviation. ... is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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